RECTAL BLEEDING.  Blood in the stool or on the tissue.

DEFINITION: Rectal bleeding can be caused by hemmorrhoids
(external or internal), colon polyps, ulcers, broken
blood vessels, diverticula, inflammation of the bowel,
diarrhea, infectious parasites and diseases, tumors,
rectal fissures, excoriations and other problems.

Therapy.  Therapy is directed at the cause.  First of
all it is important to figure out the problem.  This
may take a number of physician visits.

A popular and effective tool is the colonscope and
the sigmoidiscope.  These are fiber optic devices
that can be inserted up the rectum and then the physician
can view the inside of the rectum and the colon to see
if the problem can be identified.

If one is having hemmorrhoids or an excoriated rectal area
it is best to stop using toilet paper and to wash the
rectal area with soap and water after each bowel movement.
This technique is to get a large cup that can hold at least
one quart of water.  Put your left hand in the water and
put some liquid soap on your left hand.  Holding the cup
with the right hand, pour the water down the middle area
of your buttocks and use your left hand to guide the water
and the soap over the rectal area, using your left hand to
wash the rectal area.  Once washed with soap and water, use
another cup of water to rinse the soap off the rectal area.

Anusol HC suppositories are commonly used for painful
hemmorrhoids, as is some of the excellant over the counter
products for this common malady.

As a general rule, bright red blood usually comes from
the rectal area, while the black stools come from blood
from the stomach area.

Other tests are barium enema xrays and the swallowing of
xray material to get a GI follow through xray.

It is important to find out where the blood is originating
from.